Puccini 150
A Gala Concert in celebration of Puccini's Birth-year
Presented by The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Choir
Sponsored by The MUI Group
Supported by The Embassy of Italy
Supported by The Embassy of Italy
Date : 28th August, 2008
Time : 8pm
Venue : The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
No 1, Jalan Maharajalela Kuala Lumpur
Tickets : RM50/RM70
Ticket Hotline : 012-661 7654 (Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm)
2008 marks the 150th birth anniversary of the renowned Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, whose operas have long been regarded as the most popular in the repertoire and are frequently performed in opera houses around the world.
To commemorate this anniversary, Artists Platform is presenting a concert dedicated to the heroines of Puccini, who mesmerize audiences with their heart-rending vulnerability. In all of Puccini’s operas, these frail creatures live with all their hearts for love and die tragically through illness (Mimi, Manon), heartbreak (Anna) or suicide (Butterfly, Tosca, Liu and Sister Angelica).
The concert programme comprises arias and scenes from Puccini's operas such as Le Villi, Manon Lescaut , La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, La Rondine and Turandot. The roles of the heroines will be performed by sopranos Li Hong, Vivian Li, Tan Khar Gee, Ang Mei Foong and an ensemble of female voices, all accompanied on the piano by Kok-Ting Chong.
Concert Programme
Se come voi – Le Villi
Ancora un passo– Madama Butterfly
Un bel di – Madama Butterfly
Si mi chiamano Mimi – La Boheme
Donde lieta – La Boheme
Quando men’vo – La boheme
Interval
Vissi d’arte – Tosca
In quelle trine morbide – Manon Lescaut
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta - La Rondine
Signore ascolta – Turandot
Tu che di gel sei cinta – Turandot
Senza mamma and scena - Suor Angelica
O mio babbino caro – Gianni Schicchi
Soprano
Li Hong
Vivian Li
Tan Khar Gee
Ang Mei Fong
Female vocal ensemble
Tan Kai Jong,
Chan Nyim,
Wong Poh Ming
Tan Hong Peng
Chua Pih Siang
Loong Yoke Kum
Grace Low Kwee Chin
Chiew Sheau Fwu
Lee Yee Wee
Pianist
Kok-Ting Chong
Orchestrator
Ng Chor Guan
A lyric soprano with a sound technique and beautiful high notes, Li Hong was graduated from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. She has performed extensively around China and most recently in America and Poland. A winner of several singing competitions, she has worked with Professor Lu Hui Juan (Germany), Rao Yu Jian (Shanghai Opera House), Linda Brice and Richard Poppino (America). In 2007 she made her debut as Tosca with the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
Vivian Li holds a BA Degree in Traditional Chinese Vocal Music from the Harbin University before graduating in 2007 at the NanYang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore. An avid competition participant since young, she has won many competitions including the prestigious Hei Long Jiang Singing Competition and the Chinese Winter Dream Young Singer Singing Competition
Since residing in Singapore, she has performed at the Esplanade Concourse, Victoria Concert Hall and the Lee Foundation Theater. She made her debut with Bangkok opera in 2007 singing the role of Gerhilde in Wagner’s Die Walküre
Homegrown coloratura soprano, Tan Khar Gee was a graduate of the Malaysian Institute of Arts before obtaining her Masters Degree at the Conservatory of China, Beijing. Subsequently she left for Italy to further her studies at the Accademia Lirica Italiana under the tutelage of Maestro Pier Miranda Ferraro and the renowned repetiteur Maestro Roberto Negri, both from the famous opera house Teatro Alla Scala, Milano. In Italy, she actively participated and represented the conservatory in major performances and received excellent reviews from the press. Consequently, she was awarded the Young Vocalist and Artist Certificate.
Since her return to the country in 2004, she has given many recitals in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China to great acclaim.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, soprano Ang Mei Foong started her musical training as a pianist. After obtaining her Bachelor degree from the National Taiwan Normal University, she furthered her studies at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia Roma under the guidance of Maestra Rebecca Berg. Subsequently she received a full scholarship to pursue her Master’s at the University of Melbourne. In Melbourne, she studied with Merlyn Quaife.
An active recitalist, Mei Foong has performed in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Australia.
Time : 8pm
Venue : The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
No 1, Jalan Maharajalela Kuala Lumpur
Tickets : RM50/RM70
Ticket Hotline : 012-661 7654 (Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm)
2008 marks the 150th birth anniversary of the renowned Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini, whose operas have long been regarded as the most popular in the repertoire and are frequently performed in opera houses around the world.
To commemorate this anniversary, Artists Platform is presenting a concert dedicated to the heroines of Puccini, who mesmerize audiences with their heart-rending vulnerability. In all of Puccini’s operas, these frail creatures live with all their hearts for love and die tragically through illness (Mimi, Manon), heartbreak (Anna) or suicide (Butterfly, Tosca, Liu and Sister Angelica).
The concert programme comprises arias and scenes from Puccini's operas such as Le Villi, Manon Lescaut , La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, La Rondine and Turandot. The roles of the heroines will be performed by sopranos Li Hong, Vivian Li, Tan Khar Gee, Ang Mei Foong and an ensemble of female voices, all accompanied on the piano by Kok-Ting Chong.
Concert Programme
Se come voi – Le Villi
Ancora un passo– Madama Butterfly
Un bel di – Madama Butterfly
Si mi chiamano Mimi – La Boheme
Donde lieta – La Boheme
Quando men’vo – La boheme
Interval
Vissi d’arte – Tosca
In quelle trine morbide – Manon Lescaut
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta - La Rondine
Signore ascolta – Turandot
Tu che di gel sei cinta – Turandot
Senza mamma and scena - Suor Angelica
O mio babbino caro – Gianni Schicchi
Soprano
Li Hong
Vivian Li
Tan Khar Gee
Ang Mei Fong
Female vocal ensemble
Tan Kai Jong,
Chan Nyim,
Wong Poh Ming
Tan Hong Peng
Chua Pih Siang
Loong Yoke Kum
Grace Low Kwee Chin
Chiew Sheau Fwu
Lee Yee Wee
Pianist
Kok-Ting Chong
Orchestrator
Ng Chor Guan
A lyric soprano with a sound technique and beautiful high notes, Li Hong was graduated from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. She has performed extensively around China and most recently in America and Poland. A winner of several singing competitions, she has worked with Professor Lu Hui Juan (Germany), Rao Yu Jian (Shanghai Opera House), Linda Brice and Richard Poppino (America). In 2007 she made her debut as Tosca with the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
Vivian Li holds a BA Degree in Traditional Chinese Vocal Music from the Harbin University before graduating in 2007 at the NanYang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore. An avid competition participant since young, she has won many competitions including the prestigious Hei Long Jiang Singing Competition and the Chinese Winter Dream Young Singer Singing CompetitionSince residing in Singapore, she has performed at the Esplanade Concourse, Victoria Concert Hall and the Lee Foundation Theater. She made her debut with Bangkok opera in 2007 singing the role of Gerhilde in Wagner’s Die Walküre
Homegrown coloratura soprano, Tan Khar Gee was a graduate of the Malaysian Institute of Arts before obtaining her Masters Degree at the Conservatory of China, Beijing. Subsequently she left for Italy to further her studies at the Accademia Lirica Italiana under the tutelage of Maestro Pier Miranda Ferraro and the renowned repetiteur Maestro Roberto Negri, both from the famous opera house Teatro Alla Scala, Milano. In Italy, she actively participated and represented the conservatory in major performances and received excellent reviews from the press. Consequently, she was awarded the Young Vocalist and Artist Certificate.Since her return to the country in 2004, she has given many recitals in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China to great acclaim.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, soprano Ang Mei Foong started her musical training as a pianist. After obtaining her Bachelor degree from the National Taiwan Normal University, she furthered her studies at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia Roma under the guidance of Maestra Rebecca Berg. Subsequently she received a full scholarship to pursue her Master’s at the University of Melbourne. In Melbourne, she studied with Merlyn Quaife.An active recitalist, Mei Foong has performed in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Australia.
The Star
Friday August 22, 2008
Puccini’s heroines
By N. RAMA LOHAN
Puccini’s heroines
By N. RAMA LOHAN
Puccini 150 Gala Concert celebrates the famed Italian composer’s works.
He was deemed a poor and indisciplined music student by his uncle, yet Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), the famed Italian composer renowned for his operas, went on to write classics of the genre like Tosca, Madamme Butterfly and La Boheme, among others.
He was deemed a poor and indisciplined music student by his uncle, yet Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), the famed Italian composer renowned for his operas, went on to write classics of the genre like Tosca, Madamme Butterfly and La Boheme, among others.
The great man’s works will be celebrated in Malaysia come Aug 28 at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at 8pm. Marking his 150th birthday, the event dubbed Puccini 150 Gala Concert comes under the auspices of the MUI Group and is supported by the Embassy of Italy.
To commemorate this anniversary, Artists Platform will present a concert dedicated to the heroines of Puccini, who have mesmerised audiences with their vulnerability.
The concert programme comprises arias and scenes from Puccini’s operas such as Le Villi, Manon Lescaut, La Boheme, Madamme Butterfly, Tosca, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, La Rondine and Turandot. The roles of the heroines will be performed by sopranos Li Hong, Vivian Li, Tan Khar Gee and Ang Mei Foong as well as an ensemble of female voices, all accompanied on the piano by Chong Kok-Ting.
As the guiding force for the production, Chong took some time off to elaborate on what the event is all about and what concert-goers can look forward to.
“Puccini 150 is about the female characters from nine of his operas. For me, it’s the female character that touches me most. The arias I’ve selected are the most popular and alongside them, an excerpt from Sour Angelica, an opera that’s not performed often worldwide.
“People attending the show can expect an evening of great music and singing,” claims the 43-year-old pianist who hails from Sungai Siput, Perak.
Drawing his four sopranos apart proved no easy task but the obliging Chong – who is one of seven siblings – describes them as individuals in their own right. “They are four singers of very different backgrounds, training and exposure. They all have distinctive vocal styles and colours,” he shares diplomatically.
Chong’s own musical roots lay embedded in the sands of time, a period when he grew up sharing a seat with his sister on the piano chair in his home in Sungai Siput.
His father had gifted his younger brother and sister a piano and it was on this set of keys that he developed a love for the instrument. “I’d sit with her after her class and we’d practise together. I had my first lesson at the age of 16,” concedes the late bloomer.
After college, Chong pursued his music actively and studied at the Trinity College of Music in England. “I was exposed to vocal accompaniment while at college and the great accompanist Graham Johnson was my mentor.
“I fell in love with the art of accompaniment and the soprano voice. I love poetry and, for me, opera and art song from the romantic period are the ultimate art forms, a true marriage between word and music,” he says, admitting that it was his willingness to work with anyone that got him around the block rather quickly.
Chong has a number of accolades to his name, including the John Ireland Trust, The English Singers and Speaker, highly commended in the great Grimsby Competition and at The Young Musician of the Year Competition in Stockholm.
Acknowledgement is always a heart-warming experience and Chong appreciates it, but also insists, win or lose, he would have remained honest to his craft. “It was great encouragement and yes, a good sense of self-worth that I was good at what I did. It opened up many doors for me.”
Music has been rewarding to Chong who says that nothing fascinates him more than the experience of two musicians getting together and making music agreeably. “That attracts me most in my job, rather than, say, being a soloist.”
Over the years, Chong has travelled to a number of countries, including England, Sweden, Italy, South Korea, Indonesia and Singapore. His travels have taught him a lot about the classical music culture abroad and the way of life in those places.
“It certainly broadened my horizon and the way I live my life. Western classical music, for me, is part of their culture, just like fine art, food, weather and the distinctive characteristics of the people there.”
Puccini is close to Chong’s heart for many reasons. “I adore opera, especially Puccini’s. My first experience of an opera performance was Puccini’s Madamme Butterfly. I guess it’s the raw, passionate and totally human emotion of this Italian composer that speaks directly to me.”
Raw and passionate performances should probably be on display come the Puccini 150 Gala Concert, and you can pretty much bet on it that Chong will be leading the way.
